Discussion:
Win98 RD client no longer able to connect to XP Pro
(too old to reply)
Karlof
2007-07-04 14:04:19 UTC
Permalink
I have a client that has a WINDOWS 98SE Laptop. He has been using the laptop
for years to connect to a handful of XP Pro computers using the Win98 RD
Client.

Suddenly he is getting the message "The client could not connect to the
remote computer ..." on about 50% of the computers he tries to connect to.
These are computers that he was previously able to connect with.

If I try to connect to these unreachable machines using an XP box I am able
to make the connection.

Nothing has changed on his end, and the connections are actually saved as
shortcuts (I have tried re-creating them on the fly, but this didn't help).
Has some windows update occurred on the remote machines that blocks Win98
connections?

Any ideas on how to correct this (he is adamant about upgrading his laptop).

Thanks
98 Guy
2007-07-04 14:33:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Karlof
Suddenly he is getting the message "The client could not connect
to the remote computer ..." on about 50% of the computers he
tries to connect to.
I take it that all the computers (98 and XP) are on the same local
lan?

On the 98 machine, do this:

Start -> Find -> Computer

Enter the IP address of one of the unreachable XP machines. If you
don't know what that is, open a DOS prompt on the XP machine and enter
the command "ipconfig". It will most likely be a number like
192.168.x.y, where x will be 0, 1 or 2.

If the computer does not show up in the Find window on the 98 machine,
make sure you can ping it. On the 98 machine, open a DOS prompt and
ping the IP address of the XP machine.

If you can ping, but not see the XP machine in the Find list, then
make sure you are actually sharing something on the XP machine. A
drive or directory for example.
Karlof
2007-07-04 14:44:46 UTC
Permalink
Can ping XP box. File & printer sharing is working fine, just RD problem.

I believe the problem is due to an XP update as all of these machines were
reachable in the past. Nothing has changed on any of the computers OS-wise
or program-wise (except some XP updates).

The problem appears to be getting worse, originally it was just a small
number of machines that became unreachable, now it is about 50%
Post by 98 Guy
Post by Karlof
Suddenly he is getting the message "The client could not connect
to the remote computer ..." on about 50% of the computers he
tries to connect to.
I take it that all the computers (98 and XP) are on the same local
lan?
Start -> Find -> Computer
Enter the IP address of one of the unreachable XP machines. If you
don't know what that is, open a DOS prompt on the XP machine and enter
the command "ipconfig". It will most likely be a number like
192.168.x.y, where x will be 0, 1 or 2.
If the computer does not show up in the Find window on the 98 machine,
make sure you can ping it. On the 98 machine, open a DOS prompt and
ping the IP address of the XP machine.
If you can ping, but not see the XP machine in the Find list, then
make sure you are actually sharing something on the XP machine. A
drive or directory for example.
Brian Sullivan
2007-07-04 18:38:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Karlof
Can ping XP box. File & printer sharing is working fine, just RD problem.
I believe the problem is due to an XP update as all of these machines were
reachable in the past. Nothing has changed on any of the computers OS-wise
or program-wise (except some XP updates).
The problem appears to be getting worse, originally it was just a small
number of machines that became unreachable, now it is about 50%
Post by 98 Guy
Post by Karlof
Suddenly he is getting the message "The client could not connect
to the remote computer ..." on about 50% of the computers he
tries to connect to.
I take it that all the computers (98 and XP) are on the same local
lan?
Start -> Find -> Computer
Enter the IP address of one of the unreachable XP machines. If you
don't know what that is, open a DOS prompt on the XP machine and enter
the command "ipconfig". It will most likely be a number like
192.168.x.y, where x will be 0, 1 or 2.
If the computer does not show up in the Find window on the 98 machine,
make sure you can ping it. On the 98 machine, open a DOS prompt and
ping the IP address of the XP machine.
If you can ping, but not see the XP machine in the Find list, then
make sure you are actually sharing something on the XP machine. A
drive or directory for example.
Check to see that the XP firewall settings still allow the access you
require.
--
Brian Sullivan
Courses by Wire (http://www.coursesbywire.com)
Karlof
2007-07-04 18:48:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
Can ping XP box. File & printer sharing is working fine, just RD problem.
I believe the problem is due to an XP update as all of these machines were
reachable in the past. Nothing has changed on any of the computers OS-wise
or program-wise (except some XP updates).
The problem appears to be getting worse, originally it was just a small
number of machines that became unreachable, now it is about 50%
Post by 98 Guy
Post by Karlof
Suddenly he is getting the message "The client could not connect
to the remote computer ..." on about 50% of the computers he
tries to connect to.
I take it that all the computers (98 and XP) are on the same local
lan?
Start -> Find -> Computer
Enter the IP address of one of the unreachable XP machines. If you
don't know what that is, open a DOS prompt on the XP machine and enter
the command "ipconfig". It will most likely be a number like
192.168.x.y, where x will be 0, 1 or 2.
If the computer does not show up in the Find window on the 98 machine,
make sure you can ping it. On the 98 machine, open a DOS prompt and
ping the IP address of the XP machine.
If you can ping, but not see the XP machine in the Find list, then
make sure you are actually sharing something on the XP machine. A
drive or directory for example.
Check to see that the XP firewall settings still allow the access you
require.
--
Brian Sullivan
Courses by Wire (http://www.coursesbywire.com)
Firewall is not the problem (have even turned it off). Remote Desktop XP to
XP works fine.
glee
2007-07-04 19:34:26 UTC
Permalink
Try removing the Remote Desktop Client software on the Win98 machine, and then
reinstalling it either from the Windows XP CD or from download:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
Post by Karlof
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
Can ping XP box. File & printer sharing is working fine, just RD
problem.
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
I believe the problem is due to an XP update as all of these machines
were
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
reachable in the past. Nothing has changed on any of the computers
OS-wise
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
or program-wise (except some XP updates).
The problem appears to be getting worse, originally it was just a small
number of machines that became unreachable, now it is about 50%
Post by 98 Guy
Post by Karlof
Suddenly he is getting the message "The client could not connect
to the remote computer ..." on about 50% of the computers he
tries to connect to.
I take it that all the computers (98 and XP) are on the same local
lan?
Start -> Find -> Computer
Enter the IP address of one of the unreachable XP machines. If you
don't know what that is, open a DOS prompt on the XP machine and enter
the command "ipconfig". It will most likely be a number like
192.168.x.y, where x will be 0, 1 or 2.
If the computer does not show up in the Find window on the 98 machine,
make sure you can ping it. On the 98 machine, open a DOS prompt and
ping the IP address of the XP machine.
If you can ping, but not see the XP machine in the Find list, then
make sure you are actually sharing something on the XP machine. A
drive or directory for example.
Check to see that the XP firewall settings still allow the access you
require.
--
Brian Sullivan
Courses by Wire (http://www.coursesbywire.com)
Firewall is not the problem (have even turned it off). Remote Desktop XP to
XP works fine.
Karlof
2007-07-04 20:22:44 UTC
Permalink
Reinstall of RD didn't help.

Just installed Win98 on a test machine and it doing the same thing.
Definitely a Win98 issue.
Post by glee
Try removing the Remote Desktop Client software on the Win98 machine, and then
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
Post by Karlof
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
Can ping XP box. File & printer sharing is working fine, just RD
problem.
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
I believe the problem is due to an XP update as all of these machines
were
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
reachable in the past. Nothing has changed on any of the computers
OS-wise
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
or program-wise (except some XP updates).
The problem appears to be getting worse, originally it was just a small
number of machines that became unreachable, now it is about 50%
Post by 98 Guy
Post by Karlof
Suddenly he is getting the message "The client could not connect
to the remote computer ..." on about 50% of the computers he
tries to connect to.
I take it that all the computers (98 and XP) are on the same local
lan?
Start -> Find -> Computer
Enter the IP address of one of the unreachable XP machines. If you
don't know what that is, open a DOS prompt on the XP machine and enter
the command "ipconfig". It will most likely be a number like
192.168.x.y, where x will be 0, 1 or 2.
If the computer does not show up in the Find window on the 98 machine,
make sure you can ping it. On the 98 machine, open a DOS prompt and
ping the IP address of the XP machine.
If you can ping, but not see the XP machine in the Find list, then
make sure you are actually sharing something on the XP machine. A
drive or directory for example.
Check to see that the XP firewall settings still allow the access you
require.
--
Brian Sullivan
Courses by Wire (http://www.coursesbywire.com)
Firewall is not the problem (have even turned it off). Remote Desktop XP to
XP works fine.
98 Guy
2007-07-04 21:40:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by Karlof
Just installed Win98 on a test machine and it doing the same
thing. Definitely a Win98 issue.
Are you sharing some drive or directory on the XP box?

Have you tried the "start-find-computer" suggestion I gave in my first
response?
Karlof
2007-07-04 21:50:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by 98 Guy
Have you tried the "start-find-computer"
Yes, I do see the XP boxes and can access files on them just can RD into
them from W98 box
Post by 98 Guy
Post by Karlof
Just installed Win98 on a test machine and it doing the same
thing. Definitely a Win98 issue.
Are you sharing some drive or directory on the XP box?
Have you tried the "start-find-computer" suggestion I gave in my first
response?
Brian Sullivan
2007-07-04 19:38:55 UTC
Permalink
Post by Karlof
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
Can ping XP box. File & printer sharing is working fine, just RD
problem.
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
I believe the problem is due to an XP update as all of these machines
were
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
reachable in the past. Nothing has changed on any of the computers
OS-wise
Post by Brian Sullivan
Post by Karlof
or program-wise (except some XP updates).
The problem appears to be getting worse, originally it was just a small
number of machines that became unreachable, now it is about 50%
Post by 98 Guy
Post by Karlof
Suddenly he is getting the message "The client could not connect
to the remote computer ..." on about 50% of the computers he
tries to connect to.
I take it that all the computers (98 and XP) are on the same local
lan?
Start -> Find -> Computer
Enter the IP address of one of the unreachable XP machines. If you
don't know what that is, open a DOS prompt on the XP machine and enter
the command "ipconfig". It will most likely be a number like
192.168.x.y, where x will be 0, 1 or 2.
If the computer does not show up in the Find window on the 98 machine,
make sure you can ping it. On the 98 machine, open a DOS prompt and
ping the IP address of the XP machine.
If you can ping, but not see the XP machine in the Find list, then
make sure you are actually sharing something on the XP machine. A
drive or directory for example.
Check to see that the XP firewall settings still allow the access you
require.
--
Brian Sullivan
Courses by Wire (http://www.coursesbywire.com)
Firewall is not the problem (have even turned it off).
OK that should rule out it as the cause.
Post by Karlof
Remote Desktop XP to
XP works fine.
The firewall could be configured to allow specific machines access and
others not so unless XP and 98 are running from the same machine/ip the
fact that XP works fine is not sufficient to know that the firewall is not
a factor.
--
Brian Sullivan
Courses by Wire (http://www.coursesbywire.com)
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